The Lagos State Government has urged film makers, movie producers, content creators, as well as others in the creative sector, to take advantage of the intervention funds approved for film production purposes and also explore the windows of opportunities and free trainings provided by the present administration for creative practitioners.
Commissioner for Tourism Arts and Culture, Pharm. Mrs Uzamat Akinbile-Yussuf, made gave the advice while speaking at the event commemorating the second year anniversary of Mr. Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration at Alausa, Ikeja.
She said that the present administration is greatly committed to improving the quality and standard of film production and the advancement of the huge potentials in the State's entertainment sector to international standard with its recent partnerships with some household names in the creative sector.
Akinbile-Yussuf disclosed that the Ministry recently entered into partnership with two creative firms, reputable for film production in the country and beyond; Delyork Academy and EbonyLife Academy to train 1,480 creative practitioners in Digital Film making, Documentary, Fashion, Arts and Craft etc.
She informed that this gesture by the government is informed by the need to bridge identified skill-gap in the creative sector and to position residents of the State who are in the creative field to compete globally with their contemporaries.
"As an additional palliative and support for film makers, Governor Sanwo-Olu, earlier this month, approved the constitution of 9-man committee members comprising of veteran film makers and some senior government officials to oversee a seed fund that would be dedicated for film production purposes, " Akinbile-Yussuf added.
According to her, this initiative by Governor Sanwo-Olu, is aimed at addressing financial challenges inhibiting quality film production in the State, stressing that Governor Sanwo-Olu has said that a support up to 40million naira could be accessed based on the recommendation of the committee.
Reiterating that the several interventions by the State Government to the creative sector of the State was in line with the THEMES Agenda of the present administration, especially the Entertainment and Tourism Pillar, the Commissioner called for the involvement of corporate organizations and individuals in empowering more creative practitioners through Lagos State Creative Industry Initiative, LACI.
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Akinbile-Yussuf explained that LACI is a concept of the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture and an umbrella for the coordination of all creative partnerships with the Ministry.
She noted that the activities of the Lagos State Film and Video Censors Board, LSFVCB, an Agency under the Ministry is essential to the fulfillment of ideas, innovations and programmes being implemented in the Creative Industry.
"LSFVCB oversees the activities of the film industry in the State and had in the last two years carried out its duties of ensuring that filming activities by all movie producers are achieved within appropriate guidelines and conditions established by law", Akinbile-Yussuf stated.
The Commissioner added that the agency issued 60 film shoot permit to individuals and corporate organization to shoot their films within the State between 2020 to date, stressing that the figure would have been more but for covid restrictions.
She noted that, “Although the COVID19 pandemic dealt with the entertainment sector last year when we have to shut down sector basically, however, the agency was able to license 15 Associations and Practitioners to fully go about their businesses of improving the film industry."
Speaking on the importance of registering as movie practitioners with LSFVCB, the Acting Executive Secretary of the Agency, Adebukola Agbaminoja said that registered practitioners have an edge over unregistered filmmakers in benefitting from the government.
Agbaminoja advocated meaningful film contents, capable of bringing about positive and desired changes in the society, just as she frowned at the way the business of filming activities is done by some practitioners across the metropolis without recourse to the ethics of film making.